Perch construction for birds or animals



April 23,1935.. f BLR. @HAGEN f 1,998,181

PERCH` CONSTRUCTION FOR BIRDS OR ANIMALS Filed Aug-, `29, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS April 23, 1935. B. R. NYHAGEN 1,998,787

PERCH CONSTRUCTION FOR BIRDS OR ANIMALS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 29, 1933 INVENTOR ATTORN EYS PatentedkApr. 23, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PEROH CONSTRUCTION FORBIRDS OR ANIMALS Barney R. Nyhagen, Bronx, N. Y.

Application August 29, 1933, SerialNo. 687,275 14 claims.' (Cl. 11a-11) This invention relates to a novelty'perch or Construction and mode of operation, which may rsimilar support kfor pet birds or animals and, be economically produced and which is of a high- While not necessarily restricted to such use, the 1y attractive and amusing nature. n perchor supportis especially designed to be ar- With the above recited and other Objects in 5 ranged within the cage or pen which houses the View, reference is no w made to the following ,5

bird or animal so as toaford exercise and amuse- SDeCiCatiOn and y accompanying drawings in ment for the birds or animals as well as amusewhich there iS dSCIOSed,` by Way f exampley e ment for the on-lookers. kpreferred embodiment of the invention, while n The invention broadly comprehends a perch the claims are intended to cover, in addition toy l0 or support which is so constructed and arranged the form shown, otherembodimentsv which fall 10 'that motion is imparted thereto by a suitable Within `their SCOPemotor and preferably in which the actuation of In the drawings: the motor is either caused or initiated by the Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a bird or. animal when its weight is brought to bear bird cage equipped with a perch structure` made l upon the perch structure or support or a porup in accordance with the invention, takenap- 15 tion'thereof. proximately on the line LI--I of Fig. 2. y e

More particularly, the invention contemplates Fig'. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary horizontal a perch or support of the indicated character sectional view taken approximately on the line which includes a perch arm or equivalent sup- 2 2 ofvFig. 1. f, p port element, together with means for mounting Fig. 3 ls an enlarged horizontal, sectional view '20 and driving the same so that it moves in an untakenV approximately on the line indicated at dulating, rotational translatory path.. n 3 3 in Fig.-1.

The invention further resides in the combina- Fig. 4 isa horizontal, sectional View taken apvtion withv a perch or support of the indicated proximately on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

character, of a motor driven mechanism which Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a coin conf 25 is so constructed, arranged and controlled that trolled mechanism for use in connection with the the bird or animal yinitiates actuation of the device. Y d

motor, which remains active as long aS the Weight In the present disclosure, the invention is illusof the bird Or animal is borne by the perch or 'grated as e. perch structure, associated With a support, or for a. predetermined period of time bird cage, but as previously set forth, this is 3Q after each starting of the motor and after which not intended as a. limitation upon the use or the .motor is automatically rendered inactive. eeepe of the invention, as it is obvious that the As a further feature, the invention embodies perch may equally wellbe in the form of any a coin controlled device for rendering the motor typeor movably mounted and driven support fOr r, driven mechanism operative and in-operative, toa bird or animal, whether the same is located gethelrwl'th a key actuated SWlICh fOl Optionally in a, Cage, pen 01' other enclosure 0r ,in` the permitting the coin controlled device to function open, n or the motor driven mechanism to operate in- Referringk to the drawings by characters of dependently of said coin controlled device. reference, A designates generally a cage or equiviic The invention aims for a stillfurther object alent enclosure including a main body portion 4o tofprovide in combination with the foregoing, a B defining an, upper compartment C for houssound leDI'OduCing mechanism, in which a recing a bird and in which one or more perch arms ord turntable is driven by the mOi/0I' 0f Ehe Perch III` are located, two being illustrated in the pres- 01 SuDPOtdrVing mechanism. ent instance. The cage also includes a lower l5 The invention has for another object the procompartment D, defined by a hollow base E 45 vision of a draft or suction creating device or fan which encases a motor driven mechanism for driven by the motor and adapted to direct a curimparting movement to the perch arm or arms, rent of air towards or adjacent the perch or supsaid base also housing the controlling means port or for drawing foul air therefrom'to ventiand certain other elements entering into and r late, together with clutch means for Optionally forming partof the inventive combination. 5o

rendering said device active and inactive. The base E includes a bottom, II, an upstand-r Other objects which fall within the purview of ing marginal wall I2 and a top I3 which also theinvention are to provide a perch or support serves` as a bottom for thevupper compartment structure of the character set forth, which is C.V A support I4 for the perch arm or arms is ,05. comparatively simple and not complicated in its provided, which support is in the form of a hol-y low cylindrical or tubular shaft mounted for rotation on a vertical axis and preferably disposed centrally of the cage body.

A stationary tubular boss i5 is secured to the base top i3 within a central opening I6, through and from which opening it extends upwardly to provide a bearing surface I1 at its upper end. The support I4 for the perch arm or arms I0 extends through the boss I5 and is formed with an annular shoulder or equivalent bearing I8 which rests upon the upper end or bearing surface I1 of the boss, the said perch arm support or shaft I4 extending upwardly above or beyond said bearing or shoulder I8. The lower end of the perch arm support or shaft I4 depends below the boss and base top and terminates within the lower compartment D, defined by the base E, said lower end being suitably connected with a motor driven mechanism in the manner hereinafter specified. The support or shaft I4 is adapted to rotate within the boss and within an upstanding xed or non-rotary hollow or tubular standard i9 which is anchored to and carried by the boss and which extends upwardly therefrom. The upper portion 2D o the support or shaft i4 protrudes from the upper end of the standard and is enlarged, thus providing an exterior annular rounded convex shoulder 2i which bears on the upper end of the standard i3. The upper enlarged portion or head 2@ of the support or shaft I4 is slotted as at 22 and is provided with bearing lugs or portions 23 to which the perch arms are fulcrumed on fulcrumed pins or trunnions 24. Preferably, as illustrated, the pins are carried by perch arm socket members 25, with which the perch arms are detachably associated by a screw threaded or equivalent connection which admits of their ready detachment for cleansing or other purposes.

The driving mechanism includes a motor or prime-mover which, as shown, is arranged within the lower compartment D and is supported from the underside of the top I3. 'Ihe motor shaft 3i, through suitable reducing gearing in a gear box 35i, transmits rotational motion to a pinion which turns on a vertical axis. The depending lower end of the support or shaft I4 has secured thereto gears 34 and 35, the teeth of the former meshing with the teeth of the pinion 33 so that rotation is imparted to the support or shaft I4 when the motor is active.

The primemover, which in the present disclosure, is shown as an electric motor is arranged ff in a circuit which includes conductors 40 and 4I leading from a source of supply which may be the usual house current, an attachment plug 42 being provided for plugging into the house current, The conductor 40 leads through a switch housed in a lock 43, controlled by a key 44 and by virtue of which the motor circuit may be locked, if desired, to prevent unauthorized operation oi the device. After leading through the switch 43, the conductor 4) is connected by a lead-in wire 44 to one side of the motor winding. The other conductor 4i is connected by a branch conductor 45 to the xed contact 46 of a make and break switch, which includes a resilient movable contact 41 carried by the insulated end section 48 of a lever 49. rThe lever is fulcrumed at to a bearing bracket 5I which in turn is attached to and depends from the underside of the top i3 of the base E. A conductor wire 52 leads from the resilient movable contact 41 to a branch conductor 53 which extends through a key locked switch 54 and is then connected with a conductor wire 55 which is connected with the other side of the motor Winding. A conductor wire 56 is connected to the conductor wire 55 and leads therefrom to a resilient wiper contact 51 which cooperates with and wipes over the surface of a rotary circuit maker and breaker 58 having a gap 59 so as to break the circuit through the wires 40 and 44 to the motor when the gap registers with the wiper Contact 51. The rotary circuit maker and breaker 58 is in the nature of a substantially cylindrical rim having an annular flange 50 at its lower edge and defining together therewith a cup shaped element which is secured to an annular insulated carrier BI, the flange 60 underlying the carrier EI and the rim 58, arranged over or extending circumferentially around the lower portion of the periphery of the carrier except for the gap 53 which registers with a recess formed in the periphery of the carrier 6I. A conductor wire 62 is connected with the conductor 45 and leads therefrom to a wiper terminal 63 which is in constant wiping contact with the conductor flange 6G of the rotary circuit maker and breaker.

The carrier 5I is secured to the underside of a gear 84, the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of the gear 35 and the ratio of the gears 35 and 64 is such that the gear 64 will be rotated at a relatively siower speed than the speed of rotation imparted to the perch arm support or shaft I4. It will thus be observed that the perch arm support or shaft 54 will be caused to turn about its axis approximately three times to each coinplete rotation of the gear 84.

In order to provide an arrangement for swinging the lever 49 upwardly to engage with the contacts 46 and 41, to close the motor circuit and start motor, which arrangement is such as to be actuated by the bird when its weight is brought to bear upon one of the perch arms IB, a lift rod 1U is employed. The lift rod is provided at its lower end with a xed head 1i and a relatively movable guided lever bearing element 12 which is yieldably engaged with a thrust lug 13 by means of a coiled expansion spring 14, interposed betwcen the head and the lever bearing element 12 and surrounding the lower end of the lift rod. The lift rod extends upwardly through the perch arm support or shaft I4 and through a guide 15 at the lower end thereof and has secured to its upper end a head 16 which is vertically movable and guided in the enlarged headed upper end 2S of the support or shaft I4. 'I'he perch socket members are provided with inwardly projecting studs 11 which engage under the head 16 so that when the perch arms ID are relieved of the weight of the bird, the combined weight of the head 16, the lift rod 10, the lever 49, and parts carried thereby, swing the perch arms upwardly to the position illustrated in Fig. 1. The weight of these parts, however, is such that the weight ci the bird when brought to bear on one of the perch arms, in addition to the leverage ol the perch arm, serves to elevate the lift rod 1G. The raising or elevating of the lift rod 10 swings the lever 49 upwardly and brings the movable contact 41 into engagement with the fixed contact 45 thereby closing the motor circuit and initiating the starting of the device. When the lever 49 is elevated, a gravity latch 8D swings to a position to dispose its bill 8| under the free insulated end section 48 of the lever 49 and thereby retains the contacts 45 and 41 engaged.

In order to provide means for swinging the gravity latch 80 `to release position, a movable thrust pin 82 4is supported adjacent the upper fulcrumed end 83 of the latch and a cam '84 is secured to the upper side of the gear 64 and is provided with a single high point 85on its periphery which engages with and cams the thrust pin 02 to a position to swing the latch 80 toreleaseposition.` It is, of course, to be understood that the high ypoint is so'located that the release of the latch will be effected only after the cam hask made a complete revolution and just prior to the time when the wiper 51 enters the gap 59. f f

Obviously, various motions maybe imparted tothe perch arms I0, in addition to the rotational, translatory motion caused by the turning of the support or shaft I4. In the present instance, the perch arms are caused to swing up and down so that'combined with the rotational translatory motion, they move in an undulating'path. This is accomplished by providing the upper end of the standard I9 with a horizontally disposed cam 90 having an undulating :periphery 9| and providing each perch socket member 25 with a depending cam pin 92, the cam pin being moved into contact with the undulating periphery when the perch arm isv swung downwardly under the weight of the bird'. In order to protect and shield the bird from becoming entangled with the cam and cam pin, a

, protectingfcover S3 is secured to the standard and extendsaround the cam 90.

It should also be noted that the spring pressed bearing element 12 of the lift rod compensates for the necessary lost motion between the lever 49 and the lift rod so that after vthe switch is closed and latched, there is suicient play inthe lift rod and head 16 to allow the cam 90 to function.

The device may be coin controlled, if desired, and the coin 'controlled means is optionally employed or out out by the key actuated lock switch 54. The coin control, as illustrated, consists of a coin chute |00 which directs the coin |0I to ya circuit closer, including a xed contact |02 and a swingable Contact |03 which is normally swung by a spring |04 to an angular position to admit the coin between the contactsv |02 and |03 for bridging the same and for retaining the coin in bridging position. A conductor wire |05 leads from the ixed contact |02 and a conductorwire |06 leads from the swingable contact '|03. The conductors H and |06 are designed to be plugged into a socket |01 from which socket a conductor |08 leads to the point of juncture of the conductors 53'fand 55. A conductor |09 leads from the socket |01 to the point of juncture of the conductors 52 and 53 so that when the switch 54 is turned to an open position, "the current willflow from the source of supply through the rwires 40 and 44, to one side of the ymotor winding thence through wire 55, wire IOB,-.wire |05 and to contact |02. When the coin |0I is inserted, it bridges contacts |02 and |03 and the current then flows through the coin, contact |03 and conductor |06, thence through conductor |09 and wire 52 to movable contact 41 thereby setting the device,

through the coin controlled means, ready for operation when the weight of the bird is brought to bear on the perch arm I0. In order to provide means for automatically releasing the coin after a predetermined cycle of operation, a. solenoid ||0 is provided, the core III of which is connected by a link 2 to the swingable contact |03. Conductors I I3 and |I4 lead from the -conductors ||3 and I I4 respectively connect, lead from the socket |01 y,and the conductor |I5 Is tapped into the circuit wire'40. IIS leads to a resilient wiper contact I1 which is supported and disposedin such `a manner as to wipe over the periphery ofthe insulated carrier 5|l at a point above the circuit maker and breaker rim 58. At'one point in its circumference, the rim 58 is provided with an upstanding contact lug II8, with which the wiper contact II1 engages after the gear 64 has made approximately a complete revolution. This serves to complete the'circuit to the solenoid for energivingA the same and drawing in the core III thus swinging the contact |03 away from the coin to release and-drop the same into a suitable coin receptacle, not shown. The circuit to the solenoid is completed by the current flowing through wire 40 thence through wire IIS, conductor ||3, the vsolenoid winding, conductor |54, conductor H5, wiper contact Ill, lug IIB, rim 58, wiper terminal 63, conductor 62 and conductor 4|of the source of supply. The contact of wiper |,I1 with lug ||8 is only momentary but it is sufficient to release the coin. y

In addition `to the other, features of the combination, previously described, the device may include, as a part thereof, a sound reproducing device which includes a tone arm |20, supported by and having its outlet registering with and opening in the bottom I I ofthe base E. A sound box I2I is supported by the arm vand carries the usual stylus |22 which is designed to contact with a disc record |23 supported on a turn table |24 which is driven by meshing gears |25 and |26, the latter kbeingfconnected by a shaft V|21 to the gearing within the gear box 32. It` will be understood that when. the motor is in operation and the stylus is in contact with the record |23, the record will be rotated to reproduce the soundsV recorded thereon.

As a further feature of the combination, there is provided a draft vor suction creating means in the form of a conventional blower or suction fan |30, the shaft I3| of which is optionally connected with the motor shaft 3| by means of a clutch |32. The blower youtlet or suction intake |33 extends through the top I3 and is positioned so as to direct a draft of air towards or adjacent the perch structure or withdraw air therefrom, while the combined blower inlet and suction outlet is shown at I 34.

What is claimed is:

1. A perch or support for birds or animals comprising a substantially horizontally disposed arm, means for mounting the arm to turn in a generally horizontal path around the mounting, a motor driven means for imparting motion to the arm and'means operable by the weight of the bird or animal on the arm for rendering said motor driven means ractive to impart motion to the arm.

2. A perch or support for birds or animals comprising an arm, a mounting therefor, a Ymotor driven means for imparting undulating motion to the arm and means operable by the weight of the bird or animal on the arm for rendering said motor driven means active to impart motion to the arm.

3. A perch or support for birds or animals comprising a substantially horizontally disposed arm, a mounting therefor about which the arm is adapted to move in a generally horizontal path, a

The conductor motor driven means for causing the arm to move around the mounting, and means operable by the Weight of the bird or animal on the arm for rendering said motor driven means active to impart motion to the arm.

4. A perch or support for birds or animals comprising an arm, a mounting therefor, a motor driven means for causing the arm to move around the mounting and for imparting thereto an undulating motion and means operable by the Weight of the bird or animal on the arm for rendering said motor driven means active to impart motion to the arm.

5. A perch or support for a bird or animal, including a substantially horizontally disposed arm, a mounting therefor about which the arm is adapted to move in a substantially horizontal path, motor driven means for imparting motion to the arm, means operable by the Weight ci the bird or animal on the arm for rendering the motor driven means active to impart motion to the arm and means operable to render the motor driven means inactive if the arm is free of the weight of the bird or animal.

6. A perch or support for a bird or animal, including a substantially horizontally disposed arm, a mounting therefor about which the arm is adapted tol move in a substantially horizontal path, motor driven means for imparting motion to the arm, means operable by the weight of the bird or animal on the arm for rendering the m0- tor driven means active to impart motion to the arm and means operable to render the motor driven means inactive after a predetermined time and if the arm is free or the weight of the bird or animal.

7. In a device of the character set forth, a member fulcrumed to a support for movement in a generally horizontal path about said support and adapted to be moved by the Weight of a bird or animal when the weight is brought to bear thereon, motor driven mechanism for causing said member to move completely around its support and control means connected with the member for rendering said mechanism active when moved through the medium of said member by the weight of the bird or animal thereon.

8. A perch for birds or animals comprising a substantially horizontal arm, a rotary mounting therefor with and about which the arm is adapted to move in a substantially horizontal path, motor driven means for imparting rotary motion to said mounting and means operable by the weight of the bird or animal on the arm for rendering said motor driven means active.

9. A perch for birds or animals comprising an arm, a rotatable mounting for said arm and with which said arm moves, a guide for said mounting, motor driven means for imparting rotary motion to the mounting and cooperating means carried by said guide and by said arm for imparting undulating motion to the arm as it moves with the mounting and means operable by the weight of the bird or animal on the arm for rendering said motor driven means active to impart motion to thearm.

l0. A perch for birds or animals comprising an arm, a rotatable mounting for said arm and with which the arm moves, a guide for said mounting, an electric circuit including a motor, means driven by said motor for imparting rotary motion to said mounting, cooperating means carried by said guide and by said arm for imparting undulating motion to the arm as it moves with the mounting and means including a switch in said motor circuit and a connection between the switch and the perch arm operable by the weight of the bird or animal on the arm to move the switch so as to close the circuit and render the motor driven means active.

I l A perch for birds or animals comprising an arm, a rotatable mounting for said arm and with which the arm moves, a guide for said mounting, an electric circuit including a motor, means driven by said motor for imparting rotary motion to said mounting, cooperating means carried by said guide and by said arm for imparting undulating motion to the arm as it moves with the mounting, means including a switch in said motor circuit and a connection between the switch and the perch arm operable by the Weight of the bird or animal on the arm to move the switch so as to close the circuit and render the motor driven means ctive and circuit breaker means in said motor circuit operable upon the completion of a predetermined number of rotations of the perch arm mounting to break the circuit.

l2. In combination, a perch for birds or animals, including a perch arm and a mounting therefor, a draft creating means for directing a draft adjacent the perch arm, means for transmitting motion to the perch arm and a common means for actuating said motion transmitting means and the draft creating means.

13. A perch for birds or animals comprising a perch arm, a mounting therefor, an electric circuit including a motor, means driven by the motor for imparting motion to the arm, and a switch in said motor circuit operable by the weight of the bird or animal on the arm to close the circuit for rendering said motor driven means active to impart motion to the arm.

14. A perch for birds or animals comprising a perch arm, a mounting therefor, an electric circuit including a motor, means driven by the motor for imparting motion to the arm, a switch in said motor circuit operable by the weight of the bird or animal on the arm to close the circuit for rendering said motor driven means active to impart motion to the arm, coin controlled mechanism operable to make said motor circuit, and magnetically operable means to break said circuit.

BARNEY R. NYHAGEN. 

